Paper handling system material feed path arrangement

Abstract

A materials handling system includes a feeder station having a plurality of material feeders and an insertion subsystem. Each of the plurality of feeders are connected to a common material transport path. A first material transport path is connected to the common material transport path and to the insertion subsystem. A second material transport path is connected to the common material transport path and to the insertion subsystem. A third material transport path is connected to the first material transport path and to said insertion subsystem. The second material transport path may include a materials processing subsystem such as a folder subsystem. The common materials transport may include a pre-fold accumulator transport having a pre-fold accumulator gate. A first diverter may be provided to selectively divert materials being transported by the pre-fold accumulator transport to the first or to the second material transport. A second diverter may also be provided to selectively divert materials traveling along the first materials transport to the third material transport.

1. A materials handling system, comprising:
 a common transport path; 
 a feeder station having a first feed mechanism for feeding an enclosure envelope to the common transport path and at least one second feed mechanism for feeding material to common transport path, the material for insertion into the enclosure envelope; 
 an insertion subsystem for inserting said material from said at least one second feed mechanism into said enclosure envelope; 
 a folder subsystem for folding said material from said at least one second feed mechanism; 
 a first transport path connected to said common transport path and to said insertion subsystem for transporting said material from said common transport path to said insertion subsystem for insertion into said the enclosure envelope; 
 a second transport path connected to said common transport path, said folder subsystem and said insertion subsystem, said second transport path for transporting said material from said common transport path to said folding subsystem for folding and transporting folded material to said insertion subsystem for insertion into said the enclosure envelope; and 
 a third transport connected to said common transport path and to said insertion subsystem, said third transport path for transporting said envelope from said common transport path to said insertion subsystem. 
 
   
   
     2. A material handing system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said common transport path is in a substantially vertical direction for at least a portion of its path of travel and each of said first, said second and said third transport paths is in a substantially horizontal direction for at least a portion of its path of travel. 
   
   
     3. In a materials handling system having a feeder station including a common transport path, a first feed mechanism for feeding an enclosure envelope to said common transport path and at least one second feed mechanism for feeding material to be inserted into said enclosure envelope to said common transport path, a method comprising the steps of:
 feeding said enclosure envelope from said first feed mechanism to said common transport path; 
 passing said enclosure envelope from said common transport to a first transport path to transport said enclosure envelope from said common transport path to an insertion subsystem; 
 opening said enclosure envelope in said insertion subsystem to provide an opened enclosure envelope; 
 feeding material from said at least one second feed mechanism to said common transport path; 
 selectively passing said material from said common transport path to a second transport path or a third transport path, said second transport path transporting said material to said insertion subsystem, said third transport path transporting said material to a folder subsystem; 
 for said material passed to said second transport path, inserting said material into said opened enclosure envelope with said insertion subsystem; 
 for said material passed to said third transport path, folding said material with said folder subsystem and to provide folded material and then transporting said folded material to said insertion subsystem; and 
 inserting said folded material into said opened enclosure envelope with said insertion subsystem.